Abbey rehearsal helps settle Kate's wedding nerves

Gordon Rayner and Andrew Hough, The Daily Telegraph04.15.2011

Organist and Master of the Choristers James O'Donnell (L) conducts April 15, 2011, the Choir of Westminster Abbey, who will sing at the Royal Wedding. Britain's Prince William will marry his fiancee Kate Middleton at Westminster Abbey on April 29, 2011.

The countdown to the royal wedding began in earnest Friday when Kate Middleton attended a rehearsal at Westminster Abbey exactly a fortnight before the big day.

Miss Middleton was said to be "relaxed but excited" as she was guided through the service by the Dean of Westminster, the Very Rev John Hall.

Prince Harry, who will be his brother's best man, was also present at the half-hour "walk-through" for the bridal party along with Miss Middleton's sister Pippa, who will be maid of honour, and the bridesmaids and page boys.

St James's Palace has issued a minute-by-minute timetable for the wedding day on April 29, which shows that Prince William will have to wait at the Abbey for 45 minutes for the arrival of his bride-to-be.

The royal party managed to slip into the Abbey at 8.45am via a side entrance away from the gaze of tourists, who were told the building was temporarily closed for the rehearsal.

A witness inside the Abbey said Miss Middleton, who was dressed casually, arrived with Prince Harry.

Despite Miss Middleton's recent admission to pre-wedding nerves, the witness said: "They were not worried, they all seemed quite excited. Catherine was very relaxed. Certainly the youngsters were quite excited."

The rehearsal will be the last time the pageboys and bridesmaids, who are as young as three, have a chance to practise walking down the aisle. Other rehearsals for musicians and ministers, including the Bishop of London and the Archbishop of Canterbury, will be held in the coming days.

Miss Middleton and Prince William, who could not attend the rehearsal because he was on duty with the RAF, will attend a rehearsal together a week before the wedding.

A spokesman for the Abbey said: "There was a walk-through of bridesmaids and pages this morning at the Abbey, at which Catherine Middleton and Prince Harry were present."

A royal source said: "This was one of numerous rehearsals which have taken place behind closed doors, some of which have taken place at the Abbey and some of which have been done at Clarence House.

"The final, full rehearsal with the bride and groom and the Archbishop will take place in the week before the wedding."

The timetable for the wedding day suggests that if Miss Middleton was intending to follow the tradition of being late for the ceremony, she might have to think again.

The bride and her father Michael will leave their hotel at 10.51am precisely, according to the schedule, giving their Rolls-Royce state car nine minutes to make the short drive to the Abbey. By the time she arrives at 11am, the Prince will have been inside the Abbey for 45 minutes, having left Clarence House at 10.10 with his brother.

After the service, the carriage procession will leave the Abbey at 12.15 and arrive at Buckingham Palace at 12.30, with the couple appearing on the balcony at 1.25 ready for an RAF fly past at 1.30.

The service will be relayed to crowds lining the carriage route by audio speakers, in addition to screens in Hyde Park and Trafalgar Square.

Almost Done!

Postmedia wants to improve your reading experience as well as share the best deals and promotions from our advertisers with you. The information below will be used to optimize the content and make ads across the network more relevant to you. You can always change the information you share with us by editing your profile.

By clicking "Create Account", I hearby grant permission to Postmedia to use my account information to create my account.

I also accept and agree to be bound by Postmedia's Terms and Conditions with respect to my use of the Site and I have read and understand Postmedia's Privacy Statement. I consent to the collection, use, maintenance, and disclosure of my information in accordance with the Postmedia's Privacy Policy.

Postmedia wants to improve your reading experience as well as share the best deals and promotions from our advertisers with you. The information below will be used to optimize the content and make ads across the network more relevant to you. You can always change the information you share with us by editing your profile.

By clicking "Create Account", I hearby grant permission to Postmedia to use my account information to create my account.

I also accept and agree to be bound by Postmedia's Terms and Conditions with respect to my use of the Site and I have read and understand Postmedia's Privacy Statement. I consent to the collection, use, maintenance, and disclosure of my information in accordance with the Postmedia's Privacy Policy.